Home

The joint union bargaining team for Montana’s state employees met with the bargaining team from Governor Bullock’s office November 9.

The two teams reached a tentative agreement on the next state employee pay plan. The unions’ team includes 12 members of MEA-MFT, MPEA, and AFSCME.

What’s in the tentative agreement: • 1% salary increase for all Montana state employees each year of the next biennium (2017 and 2018). • These salary increases become effective the first full pay period that includes November 15th of each year of the biennium. • State employee health care costs will be frozen for the biennium. Employee contributions, copay amounts, deductibles, coinsurance levels, and maximum out-of- pocket levels will not increase through December 31, 2018. They will only increase in the 2019 plan year if the actuarially determined Risk Based Capital Level is at or below 250%. That is not expected to happen.

Pay plan background: Thanks to hard work on the part of MEA-MFT, MPEA, and AFSCME members and leaders, we were able to bargain two good state pay plans and get them passed through the last two legislative sessions (2013 and 2015). Because of those victories, state employees received the following: • 3% salary increase in 2013 • 5% salary increase in 2014 • $.50/hour salary increase in January 2016 • $.50/hour increase in January 2017 • Increases in the state’s contribution to our insurance premium: 10% increase effective Jan. 2016 and 8% effective Jan. 2017 The picture today: Right now, state revenues are not as robust as they were in 2013 and 2015. Due to downturns in the oil and gas economy in Eastern Montana, the State of Montana anticipates less oil and gas revenue coming into the state budget. The state also anticipates less income tax revenue, because some workers in the oil and gas industry have experienced layoffs. Because of the current revenue projections, the governor’s office has taken a more cautious fiscal stance for this upcoming biennium. The state employee pay plan tentative agreement reflects that caution.

What happens next with the pay plan: Members and leaders of MEA-MFT, MPEA, and AFSCME will work with Governor Bullock’s office to get the pay plan passed through the 2017 Montana Legislature, which convenes in early January 2017. We’ll need every state employee to help. Given the makeup of the 2017 Legislature, the only way we can get this increase through is for state employees across Montana to contact their legislators when we ask them. That’s how we won the increases in the 2013 and 2015 legislatures. It’s the only way we can win in the 2017 session.

On June 18th, 2015 the Convention was convened and 63 delegates and guests began the important work that guides Council 9 for the next two years.

The purpose of this communication is to inform you of a resolution that was passed unanimously by delegates and attendees to start the AFSCME Strong program in Montana. The complete text of the Resolution is on the back of this letter. The simple goal of this program is to get members to talk to each other over the next year and gather information about the issues that affect them on a daily basis.

To accomplish this, a contact form has been created so we can track our progress, provide feedback and make sure we have the most current contact information for our members. We have included 1 copy of the form to get you started. Make as many copies as you wish, and as you have conversations with your fellow members fill one out and mail, email or FAX the form to the AFSCME Headquarters Office in Helena.

Don't want to make copies? If you would like us to mail you a stack of forms contact Hillary and she will mail some to you.
Each person who sends in just one form will receive an AFSCME Strong pin. You can even send one in for yourself to qualify. Over the next year we will be keeping track of who sends in the most completed contact forms and will be awarding prizes in June of 2016 of up to $100.00 in each region in Montana - Western. Central, and Eastern.

Categories for prizes in each region include: most from an individual and most from a Local.
This couldn't be easier and with only a few minutes a day you can be a part of strengthening your Local and your Union. To help you get the conversations started here are three suggested topics: daily workplace issues, new contract provisions and legislative issues. Connecting with each other, identifying our "lunch box" issues, and getting to know your coworkers makes us AFSCME Strong.

We are pleased to announce that all active members now have additional benefits at NO COST TO YOU or your union. These benefits are jointly sponsored with American Income Life Insurance Company, a 100% union company servicing working families for more than 60 years.

American Income works with 629,799 AFSCME members from 381 locals and districts that are covered under no-cost AD&D policies.

Over $19,300,000 in life, health and no-cost AD&D benefits have been paid by AIL and NILICO to AFSCME members and their families